I got to preview the new electric Mini on Zero Emissions Day. Not actually drive it, which is what I thought I was going to be able to do, but sit in it and stroke it. I imagine driving it will be like driving a dodgem car – no noise and quite speedy. It will be available next March, so I’ll test drive it next year.
Looks pretty good. Very swish actually and in keeping with all the usual Mini gorgeousness (this is why I am not a car reviewer, I have absolutely no idea what I am talking about, but it was black and shiny and that’s all I need to make me happy in a car, oh and seat warmers).
I guess this applies to all electric cars, but it only has a 145 mile range before it needs recharging and what if you can’t find a charger? If you have to use a normal wall socket it takes just under an hour to charge. The road chargers will obviously be much quicker, but it would still concern me that they were in use, or not available where you need them and then what?
I didn’t realise that the government are offering a £3.5K grant to anyone who wants to buy an electric car which will bring the cost of the electric Mini down to £24,400. Clearly the widespread adoption of electric cars in the UK will help reach the UK’s zero emissions target by 2050. But there’s still a lot to think about – for example – how is it zero emissions when you have to use all that electricity? How is our electricity generated? I’m also wondering, with all the new smart motorways being developed, whether we are shortly going to be forced into buying electric cars or even driverless cars as the insurance will go up for petrol cars slowly but surely. I’ve heard that might happen in the next five years….
